Resources for Creating your K-12 CS Pathway
START By reading this guiding document
The K-12 computer science framework provides a unifying vision to guide computer science from a subject for the fortunate few to an opportunity for all. The major themes within this framework focus on:
- Equity. Issues of equity, inclusion, and diversity are addressed in the framework’s concepts and practices, in recommendations for standards and curriculum, and in examples of efforts to broaden participation in computer science education.
- Powerful ideas. The framework’s concepts and practices evoke authentic, powerful ideas that can be used to solve real-world problems and connect understanding across multiple disciplines (Papert, 2000).
- Computational thinking. Computational thinking practices such as abstraction, modeling, and decomposition intersect with computer science concepts such as algorithms, automation, and data visualization.
- Breadth of application. Computer science is more than coding. It involves physical systems and networks; the collection, storage, and analysis of data; and the impact of computing on society. This broad view of computer science emphasizes the range of applications that computer science has in other fields.
Toolbox for Creating a K-12 CS Pathway
SCRIPT
We designed the SCRIPT to facilitate a conversation among district personnel, school leaders, teachers, and partners. The SCRIPT offers a set of rubrics that help district teams collaborate on a vision of a rigorous, inclusive and sustainable computer science discipline in K-12. The SCRIPT challenges the assumption that CSforALL is achieved through teacher PD alone. It builds from a shared vision for CS education and brings multiple stakeholders to the table. It helps district teams identify rigorous pathways that connect multiple teachers across grades and schools. It encourages districts to support teachers not only in their first efforts to learn CS content, but also in their long-term efforts to develop rich pedagogy and reach for mastery over time. The SCRIPT empowers districts to engage their leadership in meaningful, concrete ways to support the efforts of teachers in the classroom.
Marquette University
This K-12 Administrator Toolbox is a working document that is being created through collaborative efforts between Marquette University's PUMP-CS team, The MKE Tech Hub, and our WI CSforALL SCRIPT facilitators.